Daffodil fundraiser to help Yukoners travelling for cancer treatment

After a two-year hiatus, the Yukon daffodil campaign is back and it's raising money for a facility used by cancer patientstravelling out of territory for treatment.

Money raised in the Yukon duringthis month'sCanadian Cancer Societyfundraiserwill go to support the Jean C. Barber Lodge in Vancouver, located within a block of thecancer treatment centre.

Kari Johnston, a Cancer Society volunteer, said 67 Yukoners stayed at the lodge in 2015.

Hank Karr, a mainstay on the Yukon musicscene and a cancer patient, was one of them. He stayed at the lodge on more than one occasion,for up to two weeks at a time.

"That was such a blessing," he said about being able to stay in a comfortable, convenient locationwhile receivingchemoand radiation treatment.

During one of Karr's multi-day stays at the lodge, he ran into another Yukon musician. Together, they played tunes in lobby that night.

Karrsaid it felt good to play music for other patients going through the same heavy treatments as him.

"That puts a smile on their faces and made us feel good too."

Flowers for $5

Johnston is looking forvolunteers at each workplace who can take orders for the $5 bunches of flowers, whichwill be delivered on Mar. 24.

She said this campaign is a big fundraiser for local cancer patients. "We can raise a lot of money and we can pay for a lot of bed stays at that Jean C. BarberLodge if we all just donate a little bit."

The daffodil campaign is happening earlier this year than the last time it was held in the Yukon becausedaffodils are blooming earlier in B.C., where they are grown.

Johnston said the daffodils will be shipped to every Yukon community. They can be ordered by emailingyukon.daffodils@gmail.com or by calling Johnston at (867) 335-0440.